PROVINCE ANNOUNCES RESUMPTION OF LIVING RELATED DONOR KIDNEY TRANSPLANTS

Saskatchewan residents who are receiving a living related donor kidney transplant can soon have their surgery in Saskatchewan.

The announcement was made by Health Minister Don McMorris and Saskatoon Regional Health Authority officials and medical staff at St. Paul's Hospital in Saskatoon this morning.

"I am very pleased that we have partially resumed the Kidney Transplant Program - the Living Related Donor element of the program is operational with the first transplant scheduled in September. As well, we continue to do assessments and follow-up for many kidney transplant recipients," McMorris said.

A review of the Kidney Transplant Program was undertaken by the Saskatchewan Transplant Steering Committee. The Saskatchewan Renal Transplant Program Review report makes several recommendations aimed at improving services into the future.

"The Ministry of Health and the region support the direction of the report and approach to be undertaken, with increased government funding of $1.5 to $2.0 million to be used for the operation of the transplant program. This includes the recruitment of transplant surgeons, and more promotion of organ donation," McMorris said. "I am pleased the region is providing leadership and a commitment to this important issue."

"We are grateful to our colleagues in Edmonton for providing transplant services," said Maura Davies, President and CEO of the Saskatoon Health Region which administers the Kidney Transplant Program. "With their assistance in undertaking these transplants, it means we are caught up. There is no patient backlog for living donor transplants. We look forward to the resumption of living related donor transplants in Saskatoon."

In 2009, 22 Saskatchewan patients received kidney transplants (19 from deceased donors and three from living donors).

Committee recommendations can be found in the attached backgrounder.

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For more information, contact:

Joan Petrie
Saskatchewan Ministry of Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083

James Winkel
Saskatoon Health Region
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-655-6222